JP2003085067A - Information providing method, information providing system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method that can access a Web site and acquire information from the Web site at high speed and with high reliability. SOLUTION: A content provider receives contents provided by content clients 101 to 103 as clients for providing contents, delivers the contents from a delivery source server 105 to Internet servers 116 to 119 of a plurality of Internet service providers, and stores them in free spaces. The Internet servers 116 to 119 each functions as a mirror server for providing the contents. Access to contents from a terminal 121 of a user is made to the mirror server operated by the Internet server 116, which then provides the user with the contents. In the method, the provision of contents is not via IX lines connecting the providers together (lines called a backbone to Internet exchange points). The user can thus access contents at high speed and with high reliability.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for providing information used when a user obtains information from a website using the Internet. In particular, the present invention relates to a method that allows a user to access a website and obtain information from the website at high speed and with high reliability. The invention also relates to a system for implementing the method. The present invention also relates to a program that realizes the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an outline of a general Internet network structure. FIG. 8 illustrates the Internet servers 11 and 12 of the Internet service provider. Here, the case where the internet service provider who owns the internet server 11 and the internet service provider who holds the internet server 12 are different companies are shown.

The Internet service providers are directly or indirectly connected to each other via a dedicated line called a backbone (line to the Internet exchange point: hereinafter referred to as "IX line"). In the configuration shown in FIG. 8, the Internet server 11
Are connected to a more basic IX line by an IX line 13. Also, the Internet server 12
The IX line 14 connects to the more basic IX line. In this way, each Internet server is connected to the Internet network 15.

A large number of terminals are connected to the Internet server 11 via a telephone line, a cable television line, a wireless line 17, or the like. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the terminal 16 used by the user 20 is connected. The terminal 16 is operated by the user 20. User 20
Can make a contract (provider contract) with the Internet service provider who owns the Internet server 11 to connect to the Internet network 15, and can use the Internet network 15 by using the terminal 16. The same applies to the Internet server 12.

The Web server 18 delivers a certain content (for example, a movie or music) to the user via the Internet. The Web server 18 is connected to the Internet server 12 of the Internet service provider by the IX line 19. A company that provides contents (for example, a movie company in the case of a movie) operates the Web server 18 by itself, or a Web service is provided to another company.
The content is provided by a method of entrusting the operation of the server 18. Generally, the IX lines constituting the IX lines 13 and 14 and the Internet network 15 are called a backbone.

For example, the user 20 using the terminal 16
Consider a case where the user wants to browse a website provided by the web server 18. In this case, first, the user 20
Operates the terminal 16 to specify the URL of the Web server 18. Then, the Web server 18 connected to the Internet network 15 is searched for according to a predetermined procedure. Then, the end user 20 uses the Web server 18
The web site provided by can be viewed on the terminal 16.

At this time, the content of the website is line 1
It is transmitted from the server 18 to the terminal 16 through each of the lines 9, 9, line 13, line 17, and line 17. If the line 13 and the line 14 are not directly connected to each other in the Internet network 15, this transmission content reaches the terminal 16 via another IX line that constitutes the backbone.

Depending on the content provided by the Web server 18, a large number of end users may access the Web server 18 in a short time. In this case, it takes a long time to access the website, the connection to the website once connected is cut off, the transmission speed of the content supplied from the website decreases, and the display on the screen becomes slow. There is a problem that it becomes difficult to access.

Particularly in the case of moving picture contents, the decrease in the transmission speed of the contents becomes a problem. When the transmission speed of a moving image is reduced, there are problems that the movement of the image is interrupted, the movement of the image becomes jerky, and the image quality is deteriorated. The video distribution service is an important matter in future Internet business or various services using the Internet, and the above-mentioned problems are not preferable.

The Internet is expected to be used as a news medium. However, the occurrence of a problem due to the concentration of access to a specific website in the short time described above becomes a serious problem when news is distributed from the website.

The above-mentioned problems are caused mainly by two factors. The first factor is that the capacity of the Web server 18 is exceeded and the function of the Web server 18 is degraded or stopped. The second factor is that the amount of information to be transmitted exceeds the capacity of the line through which normal transmission cannot be performed. The situation in which the capacity of this line is exceeded mainly occurs in the IX lines 13 and 14 that form the Internet network 15 and the IX line 19 that connects the Web server 18 and the Internet server 12. Since a lot of information concentrates on these IX lines at one time, the amount of information to be handled easily exceeds the capacity.

For the first factor, the Web server 18
Can be dealt with by increasing the capacity. It is relatively easy to increase the capacity of the server or add another server. Therefore, the first factor can be dealt with relatively easily.

The second factor can be dealt with by increasing the number of IX lines constituting the backbone or increasing the capacity. However, the addition of the IX line requires a great deal of cost and cannot be performed to the extent that the second factor can be eliminated. Further, in order to eliminate the second factor, it is necessary to increase the capacity of the line in all the routes through which information is transmitted, but this is difficult from the viewpoint of cost.

In particular, it is often difficult for small and medium-sized Internet service providers to add more IX lines in terms of cost.

Further, the failure due to the above-mentioned second factor causes a failure even in other services using the same line. For example, the concentration of access to the Web server 18 causes a problem such that it becomes difficult to access another Web site that uses the line 19.

A technique using a mirror server is known as a method for dealing with the above-mentioned first and second factors. The mirror server is a server that can provide the same service as the target Web server. If the mirror server is placed in a place distant from the target Web server in terms of network, and end users frequently access, by allocating the end user's access to the mirror server, the first and second factors can be obtained. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of problems caused by it.

[0017]

Use of the above-mentioned mirror server is effective as a method for coping with concentration of access from the end user to the Web site. However, it is expensive to prepare a mirror server, and We
It is not a method that can be easily used by the side that manages the b site. Especially for organizations without capital to use it easily,
The conventionally known method using a mirror server is not suitable.

Further, in services such as live broadcasting of popular artists, live broadcasting of sports, and distribution of movie contents, access to the Web site is concentrated at a specific time and period. Therefore, a mirror server should be prepared for that purpose. Is not preferable in terms of effective utilization of hardware resources.

On the other hand, small and medium-sized Internet service providers who cannot secure a large capacity backbone are
There are situations where the business is becoming difficult. This situation is
This is not a favorable situation for the user. Small and medium-sized Internet service providers also have favorable aspects for users, such as low usage charges and good service. It is preferable for the user to be able to select an Internet service provider who provides a service suitable for him or her from various services.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method that does not cause a problem even if the access is concentrated on a specific Web site and enables the Internet service provider to effectively utilize its own hardware resources. Further, the present invention is
The subject is to provide a system for realizing the method. Another object of the present invention is to provide a program for realizing the method.

[0021]

The outline of the invention of the present application is as follows. That is, the present invention provides a step of recruiting an internet service provider who owns an internet server having a free space for opening a mirror server, and operating the mirror server from among the internet service providers who have applied for the recruitment. Of the information including the steps of selecting an internet service provider to outsource, and delivering the content published by the mirror server to the internet server owned by the selected internet service provider from the delivery source server. It is a provision method.

Further, the present invention is a method of providing information performed from a mirror server operated by using the free space of an internet server owned by an internet service provider, in which content delivery from a delivery source server is received. And a step of publishing the content on a mirror server using the free space of the Internet server.

Further, in the above configuration, a step of recording an access history from a contracted user of the Internet service provider, which is performed on the content published on the mirror server using the free space of the Internet server, , Recording the access history from the contracted user of the Internet service provider, which is performed on the content that is not published on the mirror server using the free space of the Internet server but is published on another mirror server. The method may further include a step and a step of recording an access history via the other server, which is performed on the published content by using the free space of the Internet server.

According to the present invention, the ratio of contents provided directly from the mirror server placed in the Internet service provider to the user who has the provider contract (Internet connection contract) with the Internet service provider is high. Will increase. Therefore, it is possible to prevent access from users from concentrating on a specific line of the backbone. In addition, since the available capacity of the server owned by a large number of Internet service providers is used, the hardware resources of the Internet service provider can be effectively used.

Further, by recording the access history for the contents in each mirror server, a new arrangement of the mirror servers, a revision of the arrangement and a revision of the allocation can be dynamically performed, so that the user can comfortably provide the contents. It is possible to maintain a working environment.

The mirror server is a server that has the same content as the delivery source server in a predetermined content and provides the user with the content instead of the delivery source server. The Internet server refers to a server connected to the Internet. Usually, a user is connected to an internet server owned by an internet service provider by a telephone line or a dedicated line, and connects to an internet network via the internet server. The Internet service provider refers to a business operator that provides a connection service to the Internet for users. The distribution source server is a main server that distributes contents.
The mirror server substitutes the content providing service of the delivery source server.

In the present invention, the content is W
Those available on the eb site can be used, but those for specific individuals who require access authentication etc. are not covered. The information providing method of the present invention can be understood as a system or a program. Also,
As an example of a system, the present invention can be understood as a server having a function of realizing the information providing method of the present invention.

[0028]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention can be implemented in many different modes and should not be construed as being limited to the description of this embodiment. Note that the same elements are denoted by the same numbers throughout the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of a content providing method using the present invention. The content clients 101 to 103 supply content such as movies. A movie company is an example of the content client. The content provider 104 receives content provided from the content clients 101 to 103, and provides the content using the Internet.
Under contract from ~ 103.

The content provider 104 owns the distribution source server 105. The distribution source server 105 is I
It is connected to the Internet network 107 by the X line 106. The content provider 104 contracts from the content client to publish the content of the content client on the net using the mirror server.

Internet Service Provider 1
12 to 115 are Internet servers 116, respectively.
Owns ~ 119. Each Internet server 11
6 to 117 are connected to the Internet network 107 by IX lines 108, 109, 110 and 111.

Internet Service Provider 1
12, 113, 114, and 115 contract with the user to provide a connection service to the Internet. Each Internet service provider has a user who has a contract for an Internet connection service. The Internet servers 116 to 119 are servers connected to the Internet network 107 by IX lines, respectively, and the users are Internet servers 116 to 119.
It is possible to connect to the Internet network 107 via 119.
In FIG. 1, the terminal 121 used by the user 122 is the telephone line 1.
At 20 is shown connecting to an internet server 116 owned by the internet service provider 112.

Internet Service Provider 1
There are various types of 12 to 115 such as a nationwide one, a regional one, and one using a cable television network. Further, the contents of services provided by the Internet service providers 112 to 115 are diverse, such as providing original contents, providing an original electronic mail format, and free connection charges.

In addition to the telephone line 120, a leased line, a cable TV line, a power line of a power company, or the like can be used as a line. The number of users who have contracts with Internet service providers 112-115 is
Depends on internet service provider. The terminal 121 may be owned by the user,
Sometimes it is not.

The outline of the business form in this embodiment will be described below. First, the content provider 104
We recruit Internet service providers who wish to participate in the business described in this embodiment. That is, the content provider 104 recruits an Internet service provider who thinks that the free space of the Internet server owned by the content provider 104 may be provided as a mirror server. The method of recruiting is not limited, but for example, a website opened on an internet server owned by the content provider 104 may be used. The work may be performed using a computer owned by the content provider 104.

The content provider 104 registers the applied Internet service provider in the database. At this time, the content provider 1
04 is information about the free space (capacity that can be used as a server) of the Internet server owned by the applied Internet service provider, information about main service areas, information about the number of users, information about the age group of users, etc. Receive the donation and register it in the database.

Further, the content provider 104 sends a Web request to the content clients 101 to 103.
We are looking for content to be published on the site. When there is an application from a suitable content provider, the content provider 104 selects one suitable for the content of the applied content from the registered Internet service providers. In this case, for example, Internet service providers 112, 113, 114 and 115 are selected. Further, here, the content provider 104 uses the Internet server (for example,
In each of the Internet servers 116 to 119), the number of mirrors used as a mirror server is selected. The number of mirrors means Internet services
The number of mirror servers installed in the provider.

These selections include the strategy of the content client, the content, the information about the free capacity of each Internet server (the capacity that can be used as a mirror server), the information about the main service area, the information about the number of users, and the age group of the users. It is carried out by comparing and examining information related to.

The above-mentioned recruitment of the content clients may be carried out, for example, by using the website established in the internet server owned by the content provider 104. Further, for the selection of the content client described above, for example, a computer owned by the content provider 104 may be used.

The selected Internet server receives the content distribution from the distribution source server 105 and is entrusted with the operation of the mirror server of the distribution source server 105. For example, when the Internet service providers 112, 113, 114 and 115 are selected as the Internet service providers entrusting the operation of the mirror server, each of the Internet service providers 112 to 115 owns the Internet. The servers 116, 117, 118, and 119 are operated as mirror servers to provide a service of providing the content to users.

Each mirror server responds to its contents from its own user (for example, a user 122 who has a contract with the Internet service provider 112 in the case of a mirror server opened using the Internet server 116). When there is an access, the content recorded in the own server is provided to this user.

At this time, the user 122 specifies the URL of the delivery source server 105 on the terminal 121 to access the content. However, the terminal 121 is connected to a website that provides the content and is set up on a mirror server using the Internet server 116.

When the registered user accesses the content to the Internet service provider in which the mirror server is not installed, this access is performed to the distribution source server 105. In this case, the distribution source server 105 searches for the mirror server closest to this user in terms of the network, and performs the connection destination changing process so that this access is performed there. Then, this user accesses the mirror server located at the Internet service provider closest to the network and receives the contents from the mirror server.
At this time, the distribution source server 105 may directly provide the content to the user.

An Internet service provider who has applied for a mirror server offer but has not been selected as a mirror server for the content is a registered user of the content (provided that this Internet service provider is a provider). The history of access to the content from the contracted user) is recorded, and the content provider 104 is regularly recorded.
Report to This report is for content provider 104
It is used to select the mirror server in and to change the mirror server dynamically.

Further, the Internet service provider selected as the mirror server for the content records access histories of users of other Internet service providers to the mirror server established by itself, and periodically records it. Content provider 10
Report to 4. This report is for content providers 10
It is used for selecting the mirror server in 4 and for dynamically changing the mirror server.

The above access history is reported from the server owned by each Internet service provider to the server of the content provider. The server of the content provider receives this report and stores the content in the server.

The content client pays a fee corresponding to the number of mirror servers used by the content provider and the like in return for the advantage of providing the content to more users in a comfortable environment. Internet service providers use their own servers as mirror servers and pay their usage fees from content providers to benefit. The content provider charges and pays the content client a usage fee plus a commission paid to the internet service provider.

A specific example of this embodiment will be described below. Here, an example will be described in which a live recording in which the content of a concert is recorded is provided to the user as content. In this example, the content provided is images and music.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining a concrete example. First, the content provider 104
Recruit Internet service providers who wish to set up a mirror server using the free space of their own Internet server (step 19).
7). An internet service provider who wishes to participate in this business applies for the offer in step 197 (step 198). The content provider 104 uses each Internet service
The information regarding the main service area of the provider, the information regarding the number of users, the information regarding the age group of the users, etc. are grasped, and the contents thereof are recorded in its own database (step 199).

The content provider 104 also recruits content (step 200). A content client wishing to provide content applies for content recruitment of the content provider 104 (step 201). The content provider 104 examines the content of the applied content and selects the content to be published on the mirror server (step 202). Here, the content of the content client A is selected.

When the content is selected, the content provider 104 selects the Internet service provider to be used as the mirror server (step 203). Here, the content provider 104 is
Select an appropriate internet service provider to publish the content from the data owned by oneself. Then, at this time, the content provider 104 determines the number of mirror servers used by each Internet service provider. Here, the Internet service providers 112, 113, 11
4 and 115 are selected.

For example, if the content is about a concert by an artist who is popular with teenagers, the content provider 104 is an Internet service that many teenagers have registered as users.
Select mainly by provider. In addition, the content provider 104 may also
Allocate more mirrors to the provider.

When the Internet service provider to be used as the mirror server is selected, the content provider 104 sends each Internet service from its own Internet server (supplier server) 105.
Internet server 116, 117, 1 of the provider
18 and 119 for content client A
The content 101 is distributed (step 204).

At the time of this distribution, the content provider 10
4 refers to the content to be distributed to the Internet server 11
A command for causing 6, 117, 118, and 119 to function as a mirror server, and a command for instructing the publication start date and time and the publication stop date and time of content are added.

Internet servers 116, 117, 1
18 and 119 receive the content distributed from the distribution source server 105 (step 205), and publish it all at the publication start date and time (step 206).

The user's access to the content is performed as follows. For example, it is assumed that the user 122 of the Internet service provider 112 operates the terminal 121 to access the content.
This access is performed by the user 122 operating the terminal 121 to specify the URL of the delivery source server 105. At this time, the Internet server 116 processes the access as if it has been made to the mirror server established in the Internet server 116. Then, the content is transmitted from the Internet server 116 to the terminal 1
21.

In this way, the user 122 receives the provision of the content from the mirror server operated by the Internet server 116 owned by the Internet service provider 112 with which the user 122 has a provider contract. Similar operations are performed in other mirror servers as well.

The publication of contents on each mirror server is stopped all at once at a predetermined publication stop date and time. It should be noted that during the publication of the content, each mirror server (mirror server established using the Internet servers 116 to 119) does not confirm with the distribution source server 105 whether the content is the latest one. . It should be noted that each mirror server responds to an access made at the time when the content publication period has passed by returning a message indicating that the content publication period has expired or an error message. Further, each mirror server may perform a process of changing the connection destination of the user to the distribution source server for the access made at the time when the content publication period has passed.

Internet Service Provider 1
Access to the content is made to the distribution source server 105 by a user who has not contracted with 12 to 115. The delivery source server 105 is the Internet server 11
From 6 to 119, the server closest to this user in terms of the network is searched, and the processing for changing the connection destination of this access is performed there.

Each of the Internet service providers 112 to 115 operating the mirror server collects and records the access history of the user's contents (step 207). When the content has expired,
Each of the Internet service providers 112 to 115 operating the mirror server calculates the usage fee of the mirror server and bills the usage fee to the content provider 104 (step 208). The usage fee of the mirror server depends on, for example, the number of mirrors used and the number of accesses.

The content provider 104 adds a commission to the usage fee of the mirror server charged by the Internet service providers 112 to 115 to calculate the content operation fee, and bills it to the content client A (step 209). . The content client A pays the content operation fee to the content provider 104 (step 210). The content provider 104 that has received the content operation fee pays the usage fee of the mirror server to the Internet service providers 112 to 115 (step 211). And Internet service providers 112-1
15 receives the usage fee of the mirror server from the content provider 104 (step 212).

In the above example, the publication start date and time and the publication stop date and time of the contents can be matched in each mirror server, and the contents can be fairly provided to an unspecified number of users. In addition, there is no problem that the operation timing of the website differs for each mirror server. This is useful when content is provided for a limited time. Also,
Since the content is not checked for freshness, checking the freshness does not adversely affect the load on the network or the response time to the user.

When this embodiment is adopted, if the access is from a registered user who has a provider contract with the Internet service provider in which the mirror server is installed, the content is provided to the user by connecting the providers. It is done without going through the backbone. Also,
Access to content from users is distributed. Therefore, the burden on the backbone is reduced, and the problem of line saturation in the backbone can be suppressed even if a large amount of access from a large number of users is concentrated on a large amount of content at one time.

When this embodiment is adopted, the user
You can receive the content provided in a comfortable state. Further, the content client can provide the content to more users in a comfortable state. Further, the content client only needs to make a contract with the content provider, and a complicated contract is not required. The Internet service provider can increase the satisfaction of the user who is a customer without adding an IX line. Also,
Internet service providers can effectively utilize their own hardware resources. Also, small and medium-sized Internet service providers can increase customer satisfaction without making a large capital investment. Also, small and medium-sized Internet service providers can effectively utilize their own hardware resources,
It is possible to provide services specialized for a specific user group. For example, we can develop a business that specializes in high-speed moving image providing services. Further, the present embodiment has an advantage that the entire system can be flexibly changed. Further, each business operator is not required to bear a large cost burden such as laying a new line or adding a large capacity server.

There is no limit to the number of content clients, internet service providers and user terminals. It is also possible to operate a plurality of different contents at the same time. The content provider 104 may not own the distribution source server 105, but may use a server owned by another business.

(Second Embodiment) The present embodiment relates to a method suitable for providing contents having a relatively large capacity and a high update frequency. Content suitable for application of this embodiment includes video clips of new songs, event information guides, movie guides, new product guides, and trend information introductions.

There are contents that are updated frequently, have a large capacity, and are required to be published as quickly as possible. In the case of such content, the amount of work for delivering the content from the delivery source server is large, and the update schedule may be irregular. A situation occurs in which a gap occurs. But,
If the content is distributed to all the mirror servers and then released all at once, the content will be provided to a large number of users, and the advantage of the Internet that information can be provided in real time is diminished.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the latest contents are provided to more users by sequentially updating the contents from the mirror server having the largest number of accesses.

The specific procedure will be described below. First, the content provider provides the predetermined content by the method described in the first embodiment. The content provider grasps information that the number of accesses to this content in each mirror server is large or small in a certain period. Based on this information, the content provider distributes the updated data of the content to the mirror server in order from the mirror server that has been accessed more frequently. Others are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

By adopting the method exemplified in this embodiment, the latest contents can be provided to more users.

(Embodiment 3) The present embodiment relates to a method used when providing contents having a high update frequency, for example. Examples of contents suitable for the present embodiment include news, stock price information, and weather forecast.

When the method described in the second embodiment is adopted, some users cannot access the latest contents. The present embodiment relates to a method in which all users can access the latest content.

In the present embodiment, in the method described in the first embodiment, the content provider 104 gives a command to each mirror server in advance so as to perform the operation shown in the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the contents of the command given to the mirror server. Hereinafter, the user 122 of FIG. 1 operates the terminal 121 to operate the distribution source server 105.
The description will be given by taking as an example the case of accessing the content distributed from.

In this example, the distribution source server 105 uses each Internet service that functions as a mirror server.
To the Internet servers 116 to 119 of the provider, the update deadline information is added and predetermined contents (for example, news contents updated every 30 minutes) are distributed. The update order is performed, for example, by the method described in the second embodiment. The distribution source server 105 also gives a command to the Internet servers 116 to 119 in advance so that the operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. Further, the distribution source server 105 compresses and distributes the information regarding the content to the Internet servers 116 to 119 that are mirror servers. On the mirror server side,
The delivered information is expanded and the content details are
Publish on the site.

First, the user 122 operates the terminal 121 to access the content distributed from the distribution source server 105. The mirror server established using the Internet server 116 receives it (step 301). The mirror server established using the Internet server 116 determines whether the update deadline of the accessed content has passed (step 30).
2). If this judgment is false, Internet server 1
16 provides the content to the user 122 from the mirror server operated by itself (step 303). In this case, the content provided from the mirror server established using the internet server 116 is the latest content before the update deadline, and the internet server 11
6 performs the same function as described in Embodiment 1 and provides the user 122 with the content.

When the determination in step 302 is true, the internet server 116 performs a process of changing the connection destination so that the user 122 can access the distribution source server 105 (step 304). Thus
The user 122 can access the latest content.

The above operation is similarly performed in each mirror server. This operation instruction may be issued when the content is distributed.

By adopting this embodiment, the user can access the latest contents. In this embodiment,
Even if the update of the content of some mirror server is delayed, the user can access the latest content. This embodiment is suitable for use in frequently updated stock price information, exchange rate information, weather information, disaster information, traffic congestion information, and the like.

The present embodiment may be applied to the publication of contents whose publication stop date and time is fixed on the mirror server. That is, when there is access to the content that has passed the publication stop date and time, the connection destination of the user who has made the access may be changed to the distribution source server or another mirror server that publishes the content.

(Embodiment 4) The present embodiment is a modification of the third embodiment. According to the present embodiment, when a content whose expiration date has expired is accessed, the mirror server changes the connection destination from the user to another mirror server that has updated the content and has published the latest content. Perform processing to

In the present embodiment, the distribution source server 10 is set in advance.
5 issues an instruction to each mirror server to perform the operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart exemplifying the content of an instruction issued from the distribution source server to each mirror server. Also, the distribution source server 105
Notifies each mirror server of the URL of the mirror server whose content is updated earlier than that.

Hereinafter, a case where the user 122 operates the terminal 121 to access the content distributed from the distribution source server 105 will be described as an example. The matters not particularly described are the same as those described in the third embodiment.

Since the procedure for proceeding to steps 301 to 303 in FIG. 4 is the same as that described in the third embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted. In the present embodiment, when the determination in step 302 is true, the internet server 11
6 changes the user's connection destination to another mirror server whose update order is earlier based on the URL information notified in advance (step 305). Thus, the user 122
Can access the latest content.

If the content of the content is not updated even in the newly connected mirror server,
In the mirror server, the operation shown in FIG. 4 is performed again, and the access connection is changed to the mirror server having the earlier update order.

The operation described above is similarly performed in each mirror server. By adopting this embodiment,
The user can access the latest content. Also,
The instruction of the above operation may be issued when the content is distributed.

(Embodiment 5) This embodiment relates to a system for dynamically changing the arrangement of mirror servers. As described in the first embodiment, the content provider 1
04 can grasp the access history from the user to the predetermined content. In this embodiment, the access history is used to regularly adjust the allocation of mirror servers.

For Internet service providers who are registered with content providers, there are two forms of content. The first form is contents distributed from a content provider to the Internet service provider. This content is referred to as "local mirrored content" for convenience.

In the second form, the contents are not distributed from the content provider to the Internet service provider, and other Internet service providers
The content is distributed from the content provider to the provider. This content is referred to as "remote mirrored content" for convenience. Access to the remote mirrored contents is performed from the user to the mirror server closest to the network.

Whether the predetermined content is local mirrored content or remote mirrored content depends on the Internet service provider. This is an internet service
It depends on the content whether the provider is selected by the content provider as a mirror server for the content.

Each Internet service provider registered in the content provider 104 has access history to the local mirrored contents made by the registered user, and remote mirrored contents made by the registered user. Access history,
And record access history to local mirrored content from registered users of other providers.

The access to the local mirrored contents by the registered user is as follows. For example, in FIG. 1, for the internet service provider 112, the case where the user 122 uses the terminal 121 to access the content published on the mirror server established in the internet server 116.

The access to the remote mirrored contents performed by the registered user is as follows. For example, in FIG.
At Internet Service Provider 11
This is a case in which the user 122 uses the terminal 121 to access the content published on the mirror server established in the Internet server 117, when considering 2 mainly. In this case, the access from the terminal 121 is made to the internet server 117 via the internet server 116.

The access to the local mirrored contents performed by the registered user of another provider is as follows. For example, in FIG. 1, assuming that the Internet service provider 113 is the main subject, the user 122 is
This is a case of using 21 to access the contents published on the mirror server established on the Internet server 117. In this case, the access from the terminal 121 is made to the internet server 117 via the internet server 116.

Each Internet service provider registered in the content provider 104 stores the above access record in the content provider 104.
Report to.

By this report, the content provider 1
04 can grasp the access situation from the user to the content. Also, the access information to each mirror server can be grasped.

For example, the Internet server 11 shown in FIG.
Analysis of the access history for 8 showed that the frequency of access to local mirrored content from registered users of other Internet service providers was higher than the frequency of access to local mirrored content from own registered users. To do.

This suggests that there are many users who desire to access the content at a location near the network of the Internet server 118. It also suggests that the Internet service providers with which these users have contracts do not have a mirror server for the content.

In this case, the content provider 104
Selects an Internet service provider located near the Internet server 118 in terms of network. This new internet service
The provider selects from among the ones it recruits as an Internet service provider that has a mirror server in the first stage. And this newly selected Internet
Open a mirror server at your service provider. In this way, the imbalance of the access frequency is improved. This reduces the burden on the Internet server 118 and also reduces the burden on the backbone between other Internet service providers and the Internet service provider 114. Then, a network environment in which trouble is less likely to occur can be obtained.

Further, for example, when analyzing the access history to the Internet server 117 in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the frequency of access to the remote mirrored contents by the registered user is high. This means that there are many registered users of the Internet service provider 113 who desire to access the content. In this case, a new mirror server for providing the above content is newly established on the Internet server 117. Thus, Internet services
It is possible to realize an environment in which the registered user of the provider 113 is provided with the content in a more comfortable state.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of an access state to contents. The state shown in FIG. 5 exemplifies an example of an access state from the user to the content when the system of FIG. 1 is used.

In this case, both the Internet servers 116 and 119 where the mirror server is established often access remote mirrored contents by their registered users. More specifically, the server 116
Since there are many accesses to the content B, the server 11
In 9, the content A is frequently accessed. Moreover, although the content A is published on the mirror server of the internet server 116, it is not published on the mirror server of the internet server 119, while the content B is published on the mirror server of the internet server 119. , Internet server 11
It is not published on the mirror server of 6.

Access to the remote mirrored contents B from the registered user of the Internet service provider 112 is made by the Internet server 11
It is not always done for 9. (In this case, the access is performed to the distribution source server 105 or another mirror server which is open to the content B and is close to the network)

In such a situation, the content provider 104 has the Internet servers 116 and 119.
Mirror server content (contents) established in
Replace. That is, the Internet servers 116 and 1
At 19, the mirror server is replaced. As a result, the content B is published on the Internet server 116, and the content A is published on the Internet server 119. Then, in both servers, access to the local mirrored content is increased, and a user-friendly environment is realized. That is, the user realizes the situation in which the content is provided from the mirror server arranged at the Internet service provider with which the user has a provider contract, so that the burden on the backbone is reduced and the user is provided with a more comfortable environment. Can be provided with content.

By reviewing the distribution of mirror servers as described above every predetermined period, contents are provided to the user efficiently and in a more comfortable state. The dynamic allocation of the mirror server may be reviewed in a short period such as an hour, or in a long period such as a week. The setting of the period differs depending on the content and character of the content, or the access situation of the content from the user.

(Embodiment 6) This embodiment relates to a system that can be used when a content client or a content provider selects a mirror server.

FIG. 6 shows a W displaying a list of Internet service providers in which the mirror server can be arranged.
It is a figure which illustrates an eb site screen. The content provider is an Internet
Recruit service providers, display the list as shown in FIG. 6, and publish it on the website. On this website, various data as shown in FIG. 6 are displayed.
Based on the content and marketing strategy of the content that the content client wants to supply, the content client can access the Internet on the website of the content provider.
Select a service provider.

The selection of the internet service provider is carried out by clicking the part of the internet service provider to be selected on the Web screen shown in FIG. Selecting one Internet service provider will switch to the screen shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a screen for making a mirror server contract with an Internet service provider.

The content provider confirms the contract content shown in FIG. 7 and inputs the capacity to be used and the period of use. The fee is automatically calculated and displayed on the screen. The content provider confirms the contract content and the charge, and clicks "OK" if the mirror server contract is to be made, and clicks "Cancel" if the mirror server contract is not made.

Using the system described above, the content client can easily provide the content by using the mirror server. The system described above is suitable when the content client is an individual, a small business, a local group, a volunteer organization, a school or a volunteer organization.

The operation of the website illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 does not have to be a content provider. For example, an organization whose business is to introduce an Internet service provider, which is a candidate for a mirror server, to a content provider is a Web site as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.
You may manage the site.

Although the present invention has been specifically described based on the embodiments above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and can be modified within the scope of the invention.

[0113]

The effects obtained by the typical ones of the inventions disclosed in the present application are as follows. That is, by adopting the present invention, there is provided a method in which no problem occurs even if the access concentrates on a specific website and the internet service provider can effectively utilize its own hardware resources. Further, by adopting the present invention, a system for realizing the method is provided. Further, by adopting the present invention, a program for realizing the method is provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content providing method using the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a specific example of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the content of an instruction given to a mirror server.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart exemplifying the content of an instruction issued from a distribution source server to each mirror server.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an access state to content.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a website screen displaying a list of Internet service providers in which a mirror server can be arranged.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for making a mirror server contract with an Internet service provider.

FIG. 8 is a diagram exemplifying an outline of a general Internet network structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Internet server, 12 ... Internet server, 13 ... IX line, 14 ... IX line, 15 ... Internet network, 16 ... Terminal, 17 ... Line, 17 ... Telephone line, 18 ... Web server, 19 ... IX line, 20 ... User, 101 ... content client, 102 ... content client, 103 ... content client,
104 ... Content provider, 105 ... Delivery source server, 106 ... IX line, 107 ... Internet network, 1
08 ... IX line, 109 ... IX line, 110 ... IX line, 111 ... IX line, 112 ... Internet service provider, 113 ... Internet service provider, 114 ... Internet service provider, 115 ... Internet service Provider, 116 ... Internet server, 117 ... Internet server, 118 ... Internet server, 11
9 ... Internet server, 120 ... Telephone line, 121
... terminal, 122 ... user.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Shigeru Yuzawa             1623 1423 Shimotsuruma, Yamato-shi, Kanagawa Japan             BM Co., Ltd. Daiwa Office (72) Inventor Aya Matsui             1623 1423 Shimotsuruma, Yamato-shi, Kanagawa Japan             BM Co., Ltd. Daiwa Office (72) Inventor Yoshihiko Terashita             1623 1423 Shimotsuruma, Yamato-shi, Kanagawa Japan             BM Co., Ltd. Daiwa Office F term (reference) 5B082 HA01 HA08

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A step of recruiting an internet service provider who owns an internet server having a free space capable of opening a mirror server, and the operation of the mirror server from among the internet service providers who applied for the recruitment. Providing information including a step of selecting an outsourced internet service provider, and a step of delivering from the delivery source server the content to be published by the mirror server to the internet server owned by the selected internet service provider Method. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of adding information designating a publication start date / time or a publication stop date / time or an update deadline of the content to the delivered content.
How to provide the described information. 3. The information providing method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of delivering the update information of the content from the delivery source server in order from an internet server having a large number of accesses to the content. 4. Receiving an access history to the content collected by the selected Internet service provider and an Internet service provider not selected in the selecting step, and referring to the access history Then, the step of reselecting the Internet service provider entrusted with the operation of the mirror server from the Internet service providers applied for the recruitment, or referring to the access history, is assigned to the Internet server. The method of providing information according to claim 1, further comprising: changing the allocation of the mirror server. 5. A method of providing information from a mirror server operated by using free space of an internet server owned by an internet service provider, the method including receiving distribution of content from a distribution source server, Publishing the content on a mirror server using the free capacity of the Internet server, and providing the information. 6. The information providing method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of receiving information designating a publication start date / time, a publication stop date / time, or an update deadline of the content added to the delivered content. 7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of switching the connection to the distribution source server or another mirror server in response to a connection request from the user made after the publication stop date or the update deadline. How to provide information. 8. A step of recording an access history from a contracted user of the internet service provider, which is performed on the content published on a mirror server using free space of the internet server, and the internet server. Internet that is not published on the mirror server that uses the free space of
Recording an access history from a contracted user of the service provider, and recording an access history via another server for the content that has been published using the free space of the Internet server. The method for providing information according to claim 5, further comprising: 9. A means for recruiting an internet service provider who owns an internet server having a free space capable of opening a mirror server, and the operation of the mirror server from among the internet service providers who have applied for the recruitment. Provision of information including means for selecting an outsourced Internet service provider, and means for distributing the content published by the mirror server to the Internet server owned by the selected Internet service provider from the distribution source server system. 10. The information providing system according to claim 9, further comprising means for adding information designating a publication start date / time or a publication stop date / time or an update deadline of the content to the delivered content. 11. The information providing system according to claim 9, further comprising means for delivering the update information of the content from the delivery source server in order from the Internet server having the largest number of accesses to the content. 12. Means for receiving access history to the content collected by the selected Internet service provider and an Internet service provider not selected in the selecting step, and referencing the access history Then, the means for reselecting the Internet service provider entrusted to operate the mirror server from the Internet service providers who applied for the recruitment, or referring to the access history, is assigned to the Internet server. 10. The information providing system according to claim 9, further comprising: a means for changing allocation of the mirror server. 13. A system for providing information, which is performed from a mirror server operated by using the free space of an internet server owned by an internet service provider, and means for receiving delivery of content from a delivery source server, An information providing system including: a means for publishing the content on a mirror server using the free space of the internet server. 14. The information providing system according to claim 13, further comprising means for receiving information designating a publication start date / time or a publication stop date / time or an update deadline of the content, which is added to the delivered content. 15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising means for switching connection to the distribution source server or another mirror server in response to a connection request from a user made after the publication stop date or the update deadline. Information provision system. 16. A unit for recording an access history from a contracted user of the Internet service provider, which is performed on the content published on a mirror server using the free space of the Internet server, and the Internet server. Internet that is not published on the mirror server that uses the free space of
A means for recording an access history from a contracted user of the service provider, and a means for recording an access history via another server which is performed for the content disclosed using the free space of the Internet server. The information providing system according to claim 13, further comprising: 17. A function of recruiting an internet service provider, which is a computer-executable program, and has an internet server having a free space capable of opening a mirror server, and an internet service applied for the recruitment. A function of selecting an Internet service provider who outsources the operation of a mirror server from providers, and a content source server distributes content to be published by the mirror server to an Internet server owned by the selected Internet service provider. A program that allows a computer to realize the functions to be performed. 18. A program for causing a computer to execute the provision of information from a mirror server, which is operated by using the free space of the Internet server owned by the Internet service provider, and which distributes the content from the distribution source server. A program that causes a computer to realize the function of receiving and the function of publishing the content on a mirror server using the free space of the Internet server.